“When Life Gives You Lemons, Make Lemonades.”
Hi! My name is Anna-Sophie Matysek and I have to say, my life is kind of a wild experience! During years of isolation during COVID, I could briefly remember the moments that made it a very unforgettable journey. I have learned so much about myself during that time and honestly, it was a testament for me to achieve character development. It was definitely difficult to be holed up in a room where I did not have the chance to communicate with my fellow peers and especially with balancing school works online but here I am, alive and very much well. Welcome to my life.
Pre Pandemic Photos
It all started around March 2020, it was just announced that classes would be suspended for the rest of the week due to COVID. What was interesting was that we actually had our Math exams for the following day, but I could remember feeling a sense of relief that I would not be taking these exams as it is quite difficult. However, little did we know that it would turn out to be a long 2-year suspension. I would have to say that it was such a grueling experience because of all the restrictions that were being placed, and what was scarier was the fact that it was reported that the first two people to be infected with COVID had visited Dumaguete. I honestly felt fear and anxiety because I really thought that the pandemic would result to something similar to the plague that happened hundreds of years ago. However, such fear would be replaced with slight relief because I knew that we have modern medicine to thank and the frontliners that work very hard to mitigate the situation.
After settling with the fact that COVID was really a serious phenomenon that was happening all over the world, it became my new normal and most of the time I was inside my room doing the most random things. I believe that I really spent most of my days watching shows, movies, and exploring new hobbies. I actually discovered something really significant about myself. I realized that I actually had a passion for academics and I really put so much effort into it compared to my previous years. I definitely did try exploring into musical hobbies, but I was just not that interested in them, hence why I decided to pursue my love for my education.
My new hobbies were not the only things that I was able to learn during the COVID period. I was actually given the chance to rediscover myself. I learned how to just chill out and relax. I used to be very competitive with my grades and pursue perfection, but now I had overcome that by just letting things go. It gave me the realization that I should appreciate myself for the things I have done for these last few years because I am honestly proud of all the little achievements that I have. Ever since that realization, I was able to finally appreciate and let go of whatever was weighing me down because I just did what I could do.
COVID was such a big hurdle in my life, but that did not stop me from rediscovering myself. I am proud of what I’ve achieved during that time period. I am grateful for every little thing in my life and I will continue to pursue my passion and hobbies as it will allow me to grow into someone that I wish to become. It’s like that quote, “When life gives you lemons, make lemonades” because every day, every problem, and every situation, is an opportunity to grow.
